McCrae Farm French Classical Dressage
Happy, beautiful, light, dancing horses!
McCrae Farm French Classical Dressage
Happy, beautiful, light, dancing horses!
McCrae Farm Lessons & Clinics
Dominique Barbier Clinic
Private Classical Dressage Lessons
Dominique Barbier Clinic
Join us for a weekend of
"Enlightened Horsemanship in the French Classical Tradition", with best-selling author, clinician, and world-renowned horseman, Dominique Barbier.
Dominique studied with legendary Mestre Nuno Oliveira. ” This experience was a defining moment that inspired Dominique’s belief in keeping a horse “light and happy,” known as “la belle legerete a la Française.”
Weekly Group Sessions
Private Classical Dressage Lessons
Dominique Barbier Clinic
Please join us for a different and interesting group riding class every week.
* Group Surprise Lesson
* Working Equitation
* Quadrille
* Side-Saddle
* Liberty
* Long-Reining
* Movie Nite
Private Classical Dressage Lessons
Private Classical Dressage Lessons
Private Classical Dressage Lessons
Please contact us about private lessons on School Masters. We are one of the few riding schools in the country to offer
"Lessons on Lusitanos" and other Classically trained School Masters.
You can also bring your own mount.
From Lessons to Clinics both horse (all breeds) and riders are welcome
Call to set-up your lesson.
Meet The McCrae Farm Team
About Us
Jill McCrae - Head Trainer
Jill McCrae - Head Trainer
McCrae Farm was established in 1987. We are a classical horsemanship facility dedicated to training, instruction and performance.
We are dedicated to the preservation of French Classical Training principals set in the Eighteenth Century by François Robichon de La Guérinière. We are also here to share our love of horses with the local community via performances and instructions.
Jill McCrae - Head Trainer
Jill McCrae - Head Trainer
Jill McCrae - Head Trainer
Jill McCrae is a professional horse trainer and instructor. She owns and operates McCrae Farm in Grayslake, a training and teaching facility for beginner and advanced riders and horses. Jill has dedicated most of her forty-year career to the art of French Classical Equitation (Dressage), a tradition of riding that originated in the royal
Jill McCrae is a professional horse trainer and instructor. She owns and operates McCrae Farm in Grayslake, a training and teaching facility for beginner and advanced riders and horses. Jill has dedicated most of her forty-year career to the art of French Classical Equitation (Dressage), a tradition of riding that originated in the royal courts of Europe in the 1700’s. Centuries later, this form of equitation has evolved into what is considered today as the purest and most harmonious method of training and riding, akin to ballet.
Jeff Orrell - Farm Manager
Jill McCrae - Head Trainer
Jeff Orrell - Farm Manager
As McCrae Farm's all around go-to guy,
Jeff Orrell is key to keeping McCrae Farm running smoothly. From Management to Manure, Jeff is the man in charge. Jeff also gives lessons to young and beginner riders.
Please feel free to give him a call if you and your horse are looking to join the McCrae Farm family, or to schedule a farm visit.
Elisha Esunis - Stable Manager
Lisa Diersen - Website/Social Media
Lisa Diersen - Website/Social Media
Elisha is Jill's Training Assistant and
Stable Manager. Overseeing all of the horses for lessons and classes.
Please contact Elisha for changes with your lesson time, day or to schedule a lesson with Jill or Jeff.
Lisa Diersen - Website/Social Media
Lisa Diersen - Website/Social Media
Lisa Diersen - Website/Social Media
Lisa is the Website manager and oversees all Social Media for McCrae Farm. She also keeps a full schedule of programming for McCrae Farm updated weekly.
If you would like to add an event to our schedule or submitt a photo from an event or session. Please email them to the email link below. Please join our our email list.
LeeAnn LoCicero - Keeper of Flowers
Lisa Diersen - Website/Social Media
LeeAnn LoCicero - Keeper of Flowers
On any given day from April through October, visitors to McCrae Farm are greated by a spectular display of seasonal flowers. LeeAnn is a master gardener and she is responsible for all of the beautiful blooming bouquets you will see throughout the barn!
Thank you, LeeAnn, for all of the beautiful plantings and gardening that you do to make us all smile!
Gregorio Photography
Images provided by Ronda Gregorio.
Check out her new coffee table book, due out June 2025,
"Wild Heart: The Mustang Book Project".
